Elevator.



H'. BARLOW.

ELEVATOR. APPLICATION FILED APR.9, 1913.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

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H. BARLOW.

ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.9, 1913.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

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UNITE HARRY BARLOW, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

ELEVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept 24 1918 Application filed April 9, 1913. Serial No. 760,048.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY BARLOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for facilitating the loading and unloading of vessels. The work of lowering or hoisting cargo to or from the deck of a vessel lying alongside of a dock in a harbor has hitherto proved to be an arduous and expensive undertaking by reason of the rise and fall of tides and in rough waters to the rocking of a vessel under the influence of waves.

The cargo is oftentimes handled through the medium of slings and tackle suspended from the vessels rigging, or by means of trucks which are drawn up or lowered through the medium of powercables on inclined ways or gang-planks extending from the vessel to the dock platform.

Where the difference in the heights of tides is relatively great, as for example twenty-five feet or more, the personal risks to the operators and the loss of the goods being transported are considerable, and the time and expense for handling the cargo is excessive.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a movable platform which may be interchangeably used as an elevator upon which loads may be elevated or lowered or employed as a gang-plank over which live stock may be driven or the cargo wheeled upon trucks, involving less risk, greater convenience and more despatch than heretofore.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a wharf with my invention applied thereto and shown in side elevation in its relation to a marine vessel. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same with the vessel omitted and with the beam and aprons omitted. Fig. 3 is a detail view in vertical section of parts illustrated in Fig. 1 and showing diagrammatically the electric power control whereby the raising and lowering of the elevator is regulated.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 5 designates the deck of a wharf 0r dock havmg at the front a gap to accommodate an elevator platform 6. The framework of the elevator is formed of pairs of end posts 8 and 9 and intermediately disposed posts 10 whlch are disposed at opposite sides of the gap and the posts of each pair are respectively connected from their upper ends by transversely arranged timbers 8 9 and 10 Secured to timber 10 are the axle-boxes for sheaves 11 for lines such as 12, Fig. 1. One end of each supports a counterweight 13 and the other end is connected to a ring l l or an equivalent which is connected to the adjacent side of the platform by forwardly and rearwardly extending sling ropes 15 and 15 The combined weights of the counterweights are slightly less than the weight of the platform 6.

16 represents a motor which is operatively connected by shafting 17 and gears 18 with a hoisting drum 19 upon which is connected and wound four cables, one for each corner of the platform; of which lines 20 for supporting the back end of the platform extend about guide pulleys, such as 21, thence over rope sheaves 22 supported upon the timbers 8 ,'then down about block-pulleys, as 23, and have the remote ends suitably secured to the timber 8 The block-pulleys 23 are each connected with the adjacent rear end of the platform by line 24 including a turnbuckle 25. The cables'20 which support the forward end of the platform, extend from the drum 19 about guide-pulleys, as 21 thence over r0pesl1eaves 22 supported by timbers 9 then about block-pulleys 23 to have their ends wound about winch-drums 26 which are keyed or otherwise secured to a shaft 27 our naled in bearings secured to posts 9.

The pulleys 23 are connected by lines 24 provided with turn-buckles 25 with the forward corners of the platform. The office of the turn-buckles is to adjust the platform in a transverse direction to conform to the lon gitudinal slope of the deck of a vessel, due either to the shear of such deck 01 to variations in the vessels trim due to loading.

Provided on shaft 27 is a gear wheel 28 which is in mesh with a pinion 29 provided on a shaft 30 having thereon a sprocket wheel 31 for an endless chain 32 whereby the drum shaft 27 may be rotated for winding the lines 20 about the drums 26.

33 represents a beam located at the outer end of the Wharf gap or slip and is supported from near its ends by lines 34 provided with turn-buckles 35 for regulating its longitudinal inclination to correspond with the platform, as above mentioned and moves up and down in guides 51 The lines 34 pass over rope sheaves 36 whose aXles are supported upon framework comprising posts 37 and horizontal tie-pieces 37 From said sheaves the lines 34 extend about a drum 38 having on its shaft a worm wheel 39 which is controlled and actuated by a screw 40 provided upon an upright shaft 41 having a hand wheel 42 for rotating the same. The beam 33 is supported by the lines 34 at adjusted heights corresponding, or nearly so, with the elevation of the deck of a vessel, as 43 (Fig. 1) which is to be loaded or unloaded.

Hingedly connected to the beam 33 is an apron 44 which serves to bridge the opening between the vessel and the beam. By thus connecting the apron with the beam the former is free to be swung up or down to accommodate any rolling movements occurring to the vessel. Cooperating with said apron is a second apron or plate 45 which is hingedly connected to the front end of platform 6 and serves to afford a bridge between the platform and the aforesaid apron. Counter-weights, as 46, (Fig. 1) are utilized to support the free end of plate 45 in a position inclined below horizontal plane when such free end of the plate is unsupported by the apron 44.

Referring to Fig. 3, the plate 45 is provided with a finger 47 which is disposed so that, when the bridge is tilted upwardly into suitable position for operating trucks thereover, it will engage and cause to be moved into inoperative position an arm 48 carry ing a contact 49, of an electric circuit wire to separate such contact from a complementary contact 50 connected to the elevator.

These contacts constitute a switch and are normally held in juxtaposition by means of a spring 51 acting upon the arm 48. Said contacts are respectively connected by circuit wires 0 and 6 with contact buttons at and b of a pole changer X; and the wire a. is connected by a joined wire 0 with the aforesaid motor 16. The other contact buttons (Z and c of the pole changer are coupled by a circuit wire 6 and are likewise connected with the motor by wire (Z.

The shifter arms Y and Z of the pole changer are respectively connected by wires f and g with the main or service wires 7 and g.

In operating the invention as an elevator, the platform 6 is raised or lowered by actuating the motor to cause the lines 20 and 20 to be wound upon the drum 19 or be payed out therefrom.

In lowering the platform as an elevator, the plate 45 encounters the apron 44 or the beam 33 thereby causing the plate to be tilted upwardly and effect a downward movement of the finger 47. Such movement of the finger actuates the arm 48 and opens the electric circuit to stop the motor by separating contact 49 from contact 50.

The contacts 49, 50 being together, the current would flow from current supply wire f through 7, Y, b, 50, 49, a and c to the motor and thence by (Z, e, Z and g to the return wire 9. The contacts 49, 50 being, as aforesaid, separated, the elevator is stopped. To raise the elevatorthe reversal of the motor is accomplished in any desired 'way.

Instead of employing'the platform as an elevator, it can be readily converted into an inclined way, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1, upon which live stock may be driven or goods wheeled upon trucks to or from the wharf deck and the deck of a vessel. To

these ends, the platform 6 may be first raised to the level of the wharf deck, and then the outer end of the platform is raised or lowered, as required, by manipulating the chain 32 to cause the drums 26 to further wind up or pay out the lines 20 When the platform is thus used, the slings 15 are loose or idle and counterweights 13 act through the medium of lines 12 and slings 15 to prevent the platform from being swung outwardly or toward a vessel when a load is passing over the platform.

The elevator may be operated by elevating and tilting same simultaneously and often the elevator is operated in elevating in an inclined position to give impetus to the hand trucks when the upward or downward movement of the elevator is stopped and often the construction of the dock requires this operation of elevating in inclined position when the tide is low.

When the platform is utilized either as a gangway or an elevator, the beam 33 would be appropriately raised or lowered through the agency of the hand wheel 42 which controls the winding of the drum 33 about which the beam supporting lines 34 are wound.

Obviously, changes may be made in the form, dimensions and arrangement-of the parts of my invention without departing from the principle or the spirit thereof, the above being only a preferred form of embodiment of my invention.

What I claim, is

1. In apparatus of the class described, a platform, cables supporting the platform from opposite ends, a drum for operating the cables to enable the platform to serve as as elevator, and means for regulating the effective lengths of the cables whereby the platform may be employed as an inclined way.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with supporting posts, sheaves carried by the posts, and hoisting cables supporting the platform from its inner and outer ends and operating over said sheaves, of a winding drum to which all of said hoisting cables are connected, a motor for operating the drum, and winchdrums acting supplementary to the aforesaid drum and connected with the cables which support one end of the platform whereby the relative heights of the ends of the platform may be adjusted.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with supporting posts, a platform, sheaves carried by the supporting posts, and hoisting cables supporting the platform and operating over said sheaves, of a winding drum to which said hoisting cables are connected, a motor for operating said drum, a pivoted apron carried by the forward edge of the platform, an arm carried by said apron, a switch located underneath the platform and operated by said arm, and electrical connections between said switch and the motor;

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with an elevator platform, of a beam, means for securing the beam at adjusted heights, an apron hingedly connected to the forward edge of said beam, and an apron hingedly connected to the forward edge of the platform to cooperate with the aforesaid apron, means for raising and lowering said platform, and means whereby the platform may be maintained in inclined stationary position.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with posts, sheaves supported by said posts, a drum, means to operate the drum, a platform, pulley blocks connected to the front and rear ends of the platform, cables having one end of each supported by the posts, thence passing about the pulley blocks at the rear of the platform, and about the sheaves to said drum, winch-drums supported by said posts, cables having one end of each secured to said winch-drums, thence passing about the pulley blocks at the forward end of the platform and about the sheaves to the drum, and means for rotating the winch-drums to regulate the eifective lengths of the last named cables.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with an elevator platform, a drum, means to operate said drum, a cable operatively connected to said drum and to the rear of said platform, a cable operatively connected to said drum and to the forward end of said platform, a Winch-drum, said last-named cables having one end secured to said winch-drum, and means to rotate said winch-drum to regulate the effective length of the last named cable.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a platform, a support at each end of said platform, sheaves carried by said supports, hoisting cables opera tively connected to said platform and operating over said sheaves, a drum about which said cables are wound to raise and lower said platform, a motor for operating the drum, and means to adjust the relative heights of the ends of the platform.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with an elevator platform, a drum, means to operate said drum, a cable operatively connected to said drum and to the rear of said platform, a cable operatively connected to said drum and to the forward end of said platform, and means whereby the last named cable may be operated to raise and lower the forward end of the platform independently of said drum.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a platform, propelling means to operate said platform as an elevator, and means to maintain said platform in inclined stationary position, of a beam, means for securing the beam at adjusted heights, and an apron hingedly connected to said beam.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a combined slip and elevator platform and means for operating said platform as such, of a beam mounted in vertical guides near the end of, but not as a part of, the said platform, cable means for adjustably supporting said beam, and apron hingedly connected to said beam, and an apron hingedly connected to said platform to cooperate with the aforesaid apron.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a platform, means for supporting the platform at various inclinations, a counterweight, and lines connecting said counterweight to the platform whereby the effect of said counterweight is resistant to the outward movement of said platform.

12. In apparatus of the class described, in combination with an elevator platform, and means to operate said platform, of means for inclining said platform in longitudinal directions, a counter-weight operatively connected to said platform, said connections including slings respectively connected upon opposite sides of the transverse axis of the platform.

In apparatus of the character de- 5 scribed, in combination, spaced landings, an elevator for bridging the space between said landings, means for adjusting the angular position of said elevator With respect to said landings, means for securing said elevator in adjusted position, and means for raising l0 and lowering said elevator relatively to both of said landings;

Signed at Seattle, Has-11., this 29th day of Copies of this patent, may be obtainedfor five cents each, by addressing: the Commissioner of Patenta Wuhingtomn. t3. 

